Christian university mired in debt and troubles

Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa, is located on Fair Drive across from the Orange County Fairgrounds. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

About Vanguard University

Campus: 40 acres, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Established: 1920 as Southern California Bible Institute

Affiliation: Assemblies of God

Mission: An evangelical liberal-arts Christian university within the Pentecostal tradition

Enrollment: 2,171 students

Tuition and fees: $24,310 (fall 2008)

Room and board: $7,668 (fall 2008)

Total faculty: 102

Campus life: Some 70 percent of undergraduates live on campus. No smoking or alcohol on campus. Students under 21 who don't live with a relative must live on campus.

School mascot and colors: The Lions. Navy and gold.

Source: ChristianCollegeMentor.org

COSTA MESA -- Vanguard University of Southern California is $42 million in debt, has no permanent president and is threatened with loss of its accreditation, according to interviews and public records.

Vanguard, a 2,171-student university repeatedly named one of the West's best Christian colleges, has been on a building boom in recent years as it works to upgrade its campus and programs.

But all that now could be in jeopardy, as campus officials seek to cope with problems identified by an accreditation team that visited the campus in September.

"There are a number of very serious issues they need to address - finances and leadership being among them," said Ralph Wolff, president of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The association's accreditation is crucial to a university's survival. Students need a WASC seal of approval to transfer credits to other schools and to have degrees recognized by graduate and other schools and potential employers.

Accreditation at risk

"We want to make sure the institution is sustainable and students are able to complete their programs and there are sufficient funds to address areas of needed improvements," Wolff said.

No one contacted at Vanguard agreed to talk by deadline about what is going on at the university or the measures the campus is taking to deal with its troubles.

Jessica Mireles, campus vice president for enrollment and marketing, said in a written statement that officials are reviewing the accreditation report. She declined to provide a public copy.

"In regards to our debt, we have a high debt load and that is a financial challenge which we have been working on," Mireles said in her statement. "The university is meeting its budget goals and like most other colleges across the nation is being very conservative with its enrollment projections and revenue forecasts."

Deeply in debt

The school has repeatedly been recognized for its academic quality by publications like the Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.

Vanguard's most recent income tax return, filed June 30, 2007, which as a nonprofit is a public record, shows the campus reported annual revenues of $53.3 million and expenses of $52.7 million, with net assets of $6.7 million.

However, the school's balance sheet also shows mortgages of $31.5 million against the estimated value of $53.7 million for its 40-acre campus and buildings. After accounting for other debts and assets, total school debt stands at about $42 million.

Vanguard was founded in 1920 as the Southern California Bible College based in Los Angeles. It later moved to Pasadena and then to Costa Mesa in 1950, where it became Orange County's first four-year college.

Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa, is located on Fair Drive across from the Orange County Fairgrounds. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Newport-Mesa Church is on the campus of Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A statue of a lion, the mascot of Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa, stands on its campus. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Heath Academic Center at Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Needham Chapel at Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Newport-Mesa Church on the campus of Vanguard University, a private evangelical Christian university in Costa Mesa. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.